Pain Syndromes in the Cancer Patient

Abstract

Effective management of cancer patients with pain requires a thorough assessment of the nature of the pain. Recognizing and treating the cause of pain should be the first-line approach to this common symptom. A series of common pain syndromes are unique to cancer and its treatment. Pain may result from direct infiltration of tumor or from treatment of lumor by surgery, chermotherapy, or radiation. Cancer patients often have multiple causes of pain, and each cause needs careful evaluation and treatment.